
^577 



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He Daniel, XX 






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Class Liia 

Book L_^ 



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D I ^^ R Y 



OP 



BATTLES, MARCHES AND INCIDENTS 



OF THE 



SEVENTH S. C. REGIMENT, 

BY J. J. McDANIEL, OF CO. '' M." 



The Tth South Carolina Eegiment was organized at Camp Butler, 
S. C , on the 15th of April^ 1861, to serve for twelve months. T. Gr. 
Bacon elected Colonel ; H. Fair, Lieutenant Colonel, and E. Seibles, 
Mrjor, This Regiment was noted for the fine material which coiaposed 
it. It was among the first to go to Virginia, and was formed into a 
Brigade with the 2d, 8d and 8th S. C. Regiments, and placed under 
Gen. Bonham-, and ever occupied the advanced ^position of our army 
around Centreville. In the famous retreat from Fairfax to Bull Bun, 
previous to the battles of the 18th and 21st of July, 1861, this 
Brigade covered the rear. During the fight, the 7th and 3d were 
guarding the centre, not engaged, though under an artillery fire. 
The' 2d and 8th were engaged. Gen. Kershaw was appointed over the 
Brigade at the resignation of Gen. Bonham. The Brigade remained 
in front at Centreville until the army evacuated the place, the 8th 
March, 1862, and arrived on the Peninsula the 0th April. I enlisted 
for the war with a reeulisted Company (M), on 24th March, and ar- 
rived on the Peninsula shortly after the Regiment. 

In the following sketch, my object is to give a truthful narrative of 
faq/s which came under my observation, for with iEneas I can say, 
Magna pars quorum fui. 

On 28th April, 1862, took the train on York Biver & Richmond R. 
R., and two hours brought us to where the Mataponi and Pamunky 
iorm the York river. Here, transferred to transports, we soon are be- 



iDg tossed by boisterous winds and waters of this famous river, which 
is very straight until it empties into the Chesapeake. Four hours, and 
we are approaching Yorktoww, celebrated in history for deeds of valor 
done, which crowned our first Ilevolution with victory, and taught a 
powerful and proud nation that " the race is not to the swift, nor the, 
battle to thi strong.'' As we near the landing we view with scorn the 
gunboats of the enemy riding the waves, though at a very respectable 
distance from our huge guns, which bristle along the breastworks. Oc- 
casional shots are interchanged, and some shells fall in dangerous 
proximity to the transports discharging their precious living freight, 
which seem to produce nothing more than some amusing remark from 
some witty soldier. We ascend the heights to the town. Alas ! the 
desolating track of war meets the eye on all sides in smouldering ruins, 
lonely chimneys and deep entrenchments. Ah ! McClellan, you could 
never have reduced this place by approaching in front, had not your 
gunboats, aided by the James and York rivers, given you such facilities 
for flanking it. Hence Gen. Johnston, .properly ordered a retreat in 
the direction of Eichmond, where he could draw you out from the 
shelter of your boasted power, and fight your mercenary rarelings in 
open field, where Southern patriots, armed with the triple armor of jus- 
tice, could defeat your motley crew of foreigners and oath-breaking 
Yankees. 

Our regiment being sent to guard Dam No. 1, here we are kept in 
almost a constant state of excitement. The Warwick river, a small 
stream running into the James, had been enlarged by damming it up 
every few miles, to prevent the enemy crossing. This was done by 
Gen. Magruder, who had command of the Peninsula, before the arrival 
of the army of the Potomac, under Johnston. The enemy attempted 
to cross once, and were driven back with slaughter by the 3d Georgia 
regiment. The pickets at night would fire at the least noise in the 
water, and one rainy night our regiment was double-quicked to the 
river, by the continued volleys of musketry, when it was thought after- 
wards, instead of Yankees, some sentinel had fired at noises made by 
frogs. 

It having been determined to fall back, we found it necessary to make 
a feint to cover the retreat, and while the wagon trains and main army 
were being hurripd off, the 7th and 8d S. C regiments were sent down 
to Land's End, junction of Warwick and James dvers. We went 
down 30th April; on the opposite side of the river the Yankees were 
thrown into activity at our approach. We were strung out, and built 
large camp fires through the woods, making the appearance of a large 
force. About dark, with our fires lighting up the whole face of the 
heavens, we were silently withdrawn, and ordered back to camps. We 
had scarcely left our illuminated camps when the enemy began to shell 
them furiously, which occasioned many a merry laugh. 35ut now, 
though escaping the enemy's missiles, we are severely tested ; we are 



a/KMO 



near eight miles from camp — very dark and raining — the road is about 
impassable to wagons, in places hdJy deep. Coming down we could see 
and leave the main track, but not so now; it is with difficulty we feel 
our way through the almost impenetrable darkness and deep mud. 
Many a soldier measured his length. I saw one fall two or three times 
in succession, producing the hearty yells of all around. Mar,y stepped 
into mud-holes, sinking up the length of their legs. We' arrived in 
squads at camp from midnight till day, begrimed with mud and 
drenched with rain ; when we had an opportunity of again meditating 
over the vicissitudes of a soldier's life; but we are in for the war, 
we have counted the cost, whether with one third of our enemies, we 
are determined to be freemen or slaves; we have chosen the former or 
death. 

May 3d. — All the army and trains having left but our division, at 
dark on 3d May, the division moved off and our Regiment was rear 
guard. We marched all night, and at sunrise, Sunday, 4th, we 
reached AVilliamsburg. Here we lay till evening, waiting on the 
heavy trains to precede us through the deep mud. About 1 o'clock, 
just as the last wagon had left, we resumed the march, but just as we 
entered the town, the report of the enemy's artillery was heard firing 
on our rearguard. They had discovered our retreat, and were pushing 
on after us, with the assurance no doubt from the false prophet and 
reporter, McClellan, that our whole army would be captured. The 
order immediately ran down our ranks, " about face/' with a shout it 
was obeyed, and that rear guard, with determined faces, were seen 
rapidly meeting the enemy. Wo had just loft some strong redoubts 
thrown up in the ed^e of the town. It was now a struggle who should 
reach there first, we or the enemy. Fort Magruder is now in 200 yards 
of their advance; at this juncture a N. C. Battery passed by' us in full 
gallop and enters the fort, unlimbers, and pours into the enemy's bat- 
tdly a heavy fire. For several minutes an artillery duel rages, many 
shells bursting over the ^orth Carolinians, though the shells that' 
passed over them fell among our and other regiments following us. 
We thought we were going to this fort, but when within 150 yards of 
it, the command was given ^' by company into line,'' and we were 
turned directly to the right to take possession of another redoubt 2 or 
300 yards of!:' We had to pass through an open field directly in front 
of the enemy's battery, and had they used grape or' canister (which I 
suppose they had not), vi^e would have been badly cut up. When about 
the middle of the field we were halted and commanders ordered to 
dress their companies. While thus halted, and I being the guide upon 
which the company was dressed, a rifle conical shell passed in a few 
inches of my head, just passing the entire front rank ; had it struck 
me, probably the entire front line would have been swept away. But 
an over-ruling Providence shielded us. I learned the same ball cut off 
one man's coat tail, tore another's gun in two, and shattered another's 



arm as it passed through the 8th S. C. Regiment on our right. We 
soon arrived at the redoubt on the right, and there had a full view of 
the 6ght progressing on the left. Soon we saw a long line of cavalry 
emerging from the town, approaching within a few hundred yards of 
the enemy's and our battery. Suddenly with drawn swords and a wild 
yell, such as Southe^rners alone can give in a charge, Col. Butler (then 
Major) with his horsemen are upon the battery, capturing the guns and 
gunners, and sending dismay among the enemy. This bold charge 
ended the fight, for the day, with the exception of some skirmishing. 

That night about 10 o'clock we ao-ain were on the march — that is 
Magruder's Army Corps — to guard the trains, while Longstreet's 
Division, who were encamped beyond Williamsburg, were ordered back 
to meet the enemy, Monday, Dth, witnessed the terrible struggle of 
the battle of Williamsburg. We could hear the deep roar of the guns 
as wc toiled through the mud and rain, and next morning we received 
the glad news that our forces had repulsed the enemy and held the 
entire field; notwithstanding, the hrave jMcClellan, ten miles off, sends 
back, not his first nor only lj/in(j despatch, that we were routed. It 
was in this battle that " fighting Joe Hooker" got the false title by 
McCIellan's report of '' Hooker's grand bayonet charge," all of which 
was branded with the lie by Gen. Early. If they made a charge it was 
not on our troops. For the bravery of our troops, they had " Williams- 
burg" inscribed on the banners of those regiments engaged. Our regi- 
ment and division halted next day till Longstreet's Division, retiring 
from their victorious field, had passed us. We then slowly retreated in 
line of battle, but the enemy were satisfied, and did not again molest 
us, and we took our line of defence on the Chickahominy Kiver. 

May 12th the 7th Kegiment was reorganized in accordance with the 
Conscript' Act of Congress, of April 16th. Two of the companies, 
**M" and "A," were rcenlisted and consequently were organized, ^le 
others reelected officers, seldom retaining their old officers. May l^tli 
field officers were elected. D. Wyatt Aiken, Colonel; Elbert Bland, 

Lieutenant Colonel ; White, Major. Along our new estabJished 

line, we had but little to do, occasionally exchanging shells with the 
enemy, now advanced to the east bank of the Chickahominy. This 
river made renowned several centuries ago by Capt. Smith's daring ad- 
ventures and narrow escape on its waters, again has its name been 
linked in the events of our second great struggle for independence. 
It is quite a smf^l stream, though its steep banks render it impassable 
without bridging. It runs in a semi-circle around Kichmond. On the 
west and south side we lay distant some 6 to 8 miles from Richmond- 
Where the river makes a bend south, there our lines left this stream, 
running directly across to the James. The enemy, where the location 
would admit, were building bridges under cover of their guns. Below 
where our lines left the river, they crossed over large bodies of troops 
about the last of May, McClellan thinking, no doubt, he would verify 



5 

his despatch sent from Williamsburg, " he would press us to the wall." 
On 3 1st of May, about 12 o'clock, we heard the roar of artillery, and 
soon volleys of musketry suoceeded, 4 to 5 miles to the right of our 
Brigade; soon we were i>nder marchiog orders, proceeding rapidly in 
the direction of the firing. We were halted at o o'clock within about 
2'mile3 of the left of the raging battle, to prevent the enemy crossing 
the bridge and flanking us on the left. Here Kershaw's Brigade lay 
within full hearing of the terrible conflict, until about sundown, when 
news arrived that our left wing was hard pressed. We were ordered 
forward at a double-quick, arriving on the edge of the battle field at 
dusk, when the fighting ceased for that day. We were moved up 
directly in front of the enemy, and ordered to sleep on our arms. I 
lay down on my blanket, committing my soul and body to God, think- 
ing of the loved ones far away and of the fierce scenes the coming 
holy Sabbath's sun would usher forth. Amid these solemn thoughts, 
sleep overpowers the weary soldier. The next thing I know we are 
aroused up about midnight, and are soon back opposite the bridge we 
had left. I learned this was done to still prevent a flank movement of 
the enemy. Sunday morning, June 1st, at about 8 o'clock, the battle 
again began and was very heavy for some two hours. But for coming 
back to guard the bridge the 7th would have been engaged. The firing 
became farther and farther off, by which we knew the enemy were 
giving way. The battle of the 31st and 1st, called by the Confederates 
''Seven Pines," but by the Yankees "Fair Oaks/' again evinced the 
superior valor of the Southerners over Yankees. We drove them some 
two miles with great slaughter, and then returned back to our original 
lines, leaving the enemy ditching in the swamps through which we had 
driven him. The 7th Regiment remained at Smith's farm, opposite 
the bridge, for a week. The enemy were building two bridges about 
400 yards apart. We could have prevented them from working at 
them, but were not ordered to do so. They were in full range of our 
batteries. But Uie sequel proves our leaders acted wisely, as these 
bridges were of great use to our troops in crossing over to attack the 
builders. During our stay here it rained almost incessantly. 

On June 12th, we were relieved and retired to Camp lleserve, 4 
miles of Richmond. Here we remained till the seven days fight before 
Richmond began. On the 25th June, the 4th Louisiana and 3d Geor- 
gia Regiments attacked Sickles' Brigade, which had been tj||3wn for- 
ward to extend the parallel sieges, by which the famoiJP.ditcher, 
McClellan, was going to take Richmond. Those two regiments drove 
Sickles' tour regiments back into the entrenchments. On 26th, we 
were ordered on picket to support a Louisiana Regiment About 2 
o'clock, P. M., while lying in front of the enemy's picket, near the 
railroad, we heard the heavy booming cannon on the enemy s extreme 
right, showing that the great struggle had commenced. Lee, with the 
two Hills, Lougstreet and Jackson were leading their invincible troops 



against McClellan's strong breastworks. On that night when news 
arrived that the first line of entrenchments had been carried by our 
troops, cheer after cheer ran throughout the various regiments of 
Magruder's Army Corps, still on the south of the Chickahominy, 
lying in front of the enemy's centre. Our Brigade, in McLaws' 
Division, were under Magruder. Opposite McClellan's left wing was 
Huger's Army Corps. On the 27th, our Regiment was ordered forward 
with a Mississippi Regiment to "feer^ of the enemy. In fact the 
7th, 8th and 3d regiments of Kershaw's Brigade were manoeuvering 
in front of the enemy most of the day. We were in range of their 
shells, which were flying most of the day. Late in the day the 7th 
and 8th Regiments were ordered to drive in the enemy's pickets in 
front of their advance entrenchments; immediately before this they 
had cut the timber for '3 or 400 yards ; their pickets were stationed in 
a dense thicket. Lieut. Col. Bland, with Companies A and F as skir- 
mishers, preceded us. He had not proceeded far before encountering 
the enemy, a brisk skirmish followed. Col. Aiken ordered the regi- 
ment forward ; the enemy's pickets fast disappeared through the thicket, 
and took refuge behind their batteries, which opened a most terrific 
cannonade of shells, grape and canister upon the thicket. We lay 
down, and these death dealing missiles at first passed high over us, but 
at every discharge they got our'range nearer and nearer. It seems 
miraculous how any escaped; the tops of the huckleberry bushes were 
riddled by grape shot as they whizzed over our heads; a shell splintered 
a tree right at several of our company, sending the splinters in our 
faces. Soon the Mississippi Regiment to our left attracted their atten- 
tion, and we retired, with the loss of one killed and seven wounded. 
This was the first time the 7th Regiment had lost a man in battle. 
During this day our troops on the enemy's right threw themselves upon 
him with resistless fury, and drove him from his last strong line of en- 
trenchments around Gaines' Mill. His broken and confused masses 
retreated in the direction of York River, but findinj^ our forces in his 
rear, turned and crossed the Chickahominy in the rear of their own 
centre, and then turned across to seek refuge under their gunboats in 
James River. 

During the 28th, the left wing of our army rested, while the centre 
was still skirmishing with the centre of the enemy. Early on the 
mornin^of the 29th it was ascertained that the centre and left of the 
enemy fj^re following their shattered right wing in their flight towards 
the gunboats. W^e were immediately in pursuit. Soon passing their 
powerful advanced entrenchments, we saw large fires burning many 
things they could not carry; our skirmishers were soon engaged with 
their rear, and from their next stronghold, about half a mile froni the 
first, they threw many shells at us. But soon they were routed out of 
that, and thus it continued all day. AVe continued pursuing over a 
succession of vast lines of entrenchments and through acres of camps, 



tents left standing. Hearing a loud explosion, I saw a vast pyramid 
of stuoke rising towards tjhe heavens. This was a vast pile of ammu- 
nition they had blown up. Late in the evening they made a bold 
stand at Savage Station on the railroad. Kemper's artillery, righi in 
rear of our regiment, drew the enemy's artillery fire heavily on us for 
some 'time. We were ordered to advance through a dense thicket 
along the left of the Williamsburg road. They were strongly posted 
along the farther edge of this thicket, and unfortunately we started 
with a shouc, which enabled them to direct their fire on us, for it is a 
rule with the Yankees to commence firing at long range, and if possible 
to keep at long range. We did not fire till we got in sight of them and 
in this thicket we were close on them. Their line was in such a position 
that the left of our Kegiment encountered them before the right. On 
this account the two right Coj^ipanies, *' M^^ and " A,^' became partially 
separated from the Regiment and advanced on the enemy to the right. 
W'e got within thirty steps before we could see them, when we poured 
in volleys with great efi"ect. Just as we emerged from the thicket, I 
saw a Yankee, who immediately threw dowi his gun, and getting on 
his all fuurs, passed with the rapidity of a quadruped over an open 
t;pace to a thicket opposite. Just as he entered it, I fireH a ball and 
three buckshot at him. If I did not kill him, he was badly frightened, 
Another Yankee, seeing us so close, concluded it would be safer to run 
into our ranks than to retreat, threw down his gun and came dashing 
into our lines. Lieut. A. P. Bouknight collared him ; crying out, *' I'm 
a prisoner, let me go to the rear,^^ he pulled loose and made for the 
rear faster than a double-quick. Th.3 balls were coming too thick for him. 
The Regiment was ordered back, as it was then growing dark, and 
laying on our arms in a drenching rain during the night, we arose next 
morning and found the enemy gone, leaving his numerous dead and 
wounded. 

Eight were wounded in Company M, and about l08 killed and 
wounded in the Regiment. On the 30th, we were ordered back to 
cross over to reinforce our troops sent down to the James to intercept 
the enemy before he reached the gunboats. We traveled all day, and 
late in the evening came in hearing of the guns of the battle of VVhite 
Oak Swamp. The fight lasted till 10 o'clock at night. We marched 
nearly all night and arrived on the battle field at daylight, July 1st. 
The enemy retreated during the night a few miles to Malvern Hill, a 
powerful strong position, where he made his last desperate stand to 
secure his retreat to the gunboats'. It is an elevated ridge with extensive 
slopes, bouuded by thickets and swamps in such a mannerthat we could 
not make a flank movement on it. On the sides o£ this hill the ene- 
my's infantry were massed, and numerous batteries crowned the entire 
summit. We attempted to bring up our batteries on the sides of these 
slopes to play upon them, but their guns being all in position, would 
concentrate on our guns and force them to retire. Thus, after trying 



most of the day and failing to effect anything with our artillery, our 
leaders concluded late in the evening to storm the hill. Most of the 
day shells were passing over and around our Kegiment. At 5, P. M., 
musketry opened fiercely, by soutc Brigades sent in advance of us. 
Our Brigade was soon ordered to advance. At this time the balls and 
shells were falling thick around us, and the nearer we approached the 
line of battle the thicker they came. We advanced through a dense 
pine thicket, and almost every tree seemed torn to pieces as the solid 
shot and shells came crushing along. The enemy not having artillery 
to contend with, turned loose all their artillery on our infantry, while 
their infantry poured in continuous volleys from the various lines encir- 
cling that hill. Meanwhile our troops were driving back line after 
line of the enemy towards the crest of the hill, leaving heaps of the 
slain marking each line. Our Brigade advanced through the thicket 
on the left of a large field, passing over two other Brigades as we ad- 
vanced. One of the Brigades was retreating in- disorder. Gen. 
Kershaw ordered ours to lie down, and let them pass out over us. 
But we jeered them so, that they lay down in front of us, when we 
rose up and passed over them. Some of their officers were making 
desperate efflBrts to rally them. We pressed forward to the edge of 
the woods, and there found one Brigade lying in a road which had 
formed a kind of a breastwork by wearing away the earth about 18 
inches. With this alone to shield us, we lay down just in rear of that 
Brigade, ordered not to fire as we had other lines in front. This 
proved a mistake, as this was our advanced line in this part of the 
field. We lay here for some time exposed to the most fearful and 
destructive fire. The enemy's infantry were not over 100 yards, 
though rather obscured from view by weeds and briers. A perfect 
tempest of minie balls, grape shot and shells were rained upon us. 
Every tree round where we lay still testifies to the severity of the fire, 
from the great number of scars, from the ground to the heighf of 30 
feet. At this crisis Gen. Kershaw was about to order a charge on the 
vast masses of the enemy, but having received orders when we were 
sent in to supjmrt other Brigades in advance, he declined advancing 
further. But to lay there would be too destructive, therefore we were 
ordered to fall back to a ravine. It was now growing late, and soon 
darkness closed in upon the dreadful scene. The musketry gradually 
ceased, but the night was illuminated by the lurid flashes of artillery, 
sending the blazing shells flying through the thicket. During the 
battle the gunboats in James River cooperated, throwing immense 
shells at us, many of them fully three feet long. I saw some on the 
field 6 weeks after^rds. But these gunboats did as much damage to 
their own troops as ours, and were signaled by the enemy to quit firing, 
they being 3 miles off. I must say this was a badly managed battle so 
far as our Brigade and the one in front of us was concerned, but not 
the fault of Gen. Kershaw. Had we risen up and poured in volleys 



9 

when nearest the enemy wo would have decimated their ranks, but we 
lost many noble fellows without tirino^ a gun. Company M lost but 
(5ne, wonderful to tell, the lamented J. R. Bouknight, 1st Lieutenant. 

The 7th Regiment lost killed and \found%d. Taking advantage 

of the night; the enemy reached the coveted gunboats, again leaving 
his dead and wounded. Thus McClellan, who came with a great 
flourish and boastful threats with a mighty host to take Richmond, has 
built a Napoleonic reputation among the Yankees, because he saved 
the greater part of his army, his own despatches showing that he beat 
his army to them 3 days. 

Our 13rigade camped near the battle field for a^week. During this 
time we heard of several thousand Enfield rifles being left by the 
enemy a few miles below us on the bank of the James. The Colonel 
left it to the choice of the companies of the 7th to go down and ex- 
change their muskets for rifles. Company M alone went. But Col. 
Nance of the 3d took down his entire Regiment. The enemy seems 
to have thrown away these guns in their eagerness to get aboard their 
shipping, which shows what a state of demoralization existed among 
them. ^ 

July 9th, we marched back to Camp Reserve, near Richmond. 
Here we remained, with nothing occurring to interrupt ordinary camp 
duty until 5th August, when we moved a few miles to Mrs. Christian's 
farm, where we enjoyed the luxury of bathing during those hot days 
in the cooling waters of the Chickahominy. No vandal soldier was 
now there, as a short time back, on the opposite shore, to dispute our 
right to this healthful exercise. I have seen its waters literally 
swarming with men as far as I could see. While here, the report 
came that the 'enemy were again advancing. ^Ye started to meet him, 
and arrived nearly at Malvern Hill when the advance of the enemy was 
contradicted. We bivouacked on the ground for the night, and next 
day returned to camp. 

August 10th, we moved camp to Chafin's Blufi*, 10 miles off". At 
this time the 7th Regiment was recruited with 235 conscripts, propor- 
tioned among the companies. On the 17th, moved 6 miles farther, 
and from this place McLaws' Division made a reconnoisance in fferce to 
confirm the suspicions of our leaders, that McClellan was stealing off 
to reinforce Pope. AVe found them gone. But the sagacity of our 
leaders had penetrated this '^ change of base," and already all our army 
except Holmes', D. H. Hill's and McLaws' Divisions had gorie to re- 
inforce Jackson, who was opposing Pope. Holmes' Division was left 
to guard Richmond. Hill's and McLaws' Divisions left to join the 
army of the Potomac, which was then between the Rapidan and 
Rappahannock Rivers. Nothing worthy of note occurred, but hard 
marching, till we arrived at Warrenton Springs on the 31st, when we 
heard the glorious news of the great victory of the second battle of 
Manassas, fought on the 29th and 30th of August. The magnificent 



10 

hotel at the Springs was burnt by the enemy as they were forced back 
in a severe skirmish, in which they contested the crossing of the Rap- 
pahannock by Longstreet's Corps. When the victory was officiall;f 
announced to us, new ht"eand animation filled our weary columns, which 
had been pressed on by forced maiches from Kichmond for several days 
to reinforce Gen. Lee before the decisive battle. Although ours and 
D. H. Hill's Divisions failed to reach, yet an overruling Providence 
crowued the Confederates with victory, verifying His word: " Boasting 
goeth before a fall,'' for Pope in a lyins; boast, proclaimed to his army 
that '' the rebels always showed him their backs.'' On this occasion 
the rebels had a fine view of his army's , backs, but did not enjoy the 
pleasure of seeing even his back. ' 

On the 2d of September, we passed over the portion of the battle 
field fought on the 29th ult. Hundreds of the enemy's dead lay uu- 
buried, presenting an awful spectacle, mostly much swollen and become 
as black as negroes. The stench was dreadful from the dead horses 
and men. A deep railroad cut, for which both parties were contending, 
showed the fierceness of the conflict from the great number of dead 
* Yankees in it and around it. Jackson's Corps were masters of the cut 
at night. Oar Division hastened'through these ofi'ensive scenes, cross- 
ing Bull Run at Sudley's Ford. On 8d, we went to Leesburg, passing 
near by the battle field of Ox Hill, fought on the 1st, by Gregg's 
Brigade, We remained at Leesburg two days. On the t)th, we left for 
Maryland, marching about 10 miles fco a ford; we waded the Potomac 
River. Some soldiers stripped naked, but the great mass stripped 
only their pants and drawers, while others ^^ rolled up their breeches." 
These latter got them wet, as the water came up higher than they 
could roll them. The river here was about 400 yard^ wide, having 
two small islands In Maryland we met some friends and some foes. 
Sometimes an old man with all his daughters would come out to the 
road, smile upon us, and wave handkerchiefs. Others would close 
their doors, and we could see them making wry faces from the windows 
up stairs. As we passed a house of this kind, one of our bojs hal- 
looed out, '' You been wanting us in the Union long time, you got us 
now.'' J On the 8th, we crossed the Monoeacy River and camped near 
Frederick City. We remained there till the 10th, blowing up the iron 
bridge of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over the river. As we 
passed ^through Frederick City, great demonstrations were made by 
friends and foes — some ladies were bringing pails of water to quench 
the thirst of the soldiers — some milk — some bread — some waved hand- 
kerchiefs and Confederate flags, while others waved Union flags from 
windows and held their noses as we passed — some crying, while our 
bands were playing and the troops cheering. In passing through this 
exciting scene, a Georgia Major, inspired in part by the occasion, and 
in part by liquor, was riding along our lines speaking. He was call- 
ing the attention of the citizens to '' the grand invincible army of the 



11 

South ;" in passing our Brigade, he said, " I'm a Greorgian, but I give 
to South Carolina the honor of beginning this struggle for liberty/' 
Vie gave him a cheer and he passed on. After passing the city we 
took the Hagerstown road and traveled that to J^'iddleton. There 
McLaws' and part of Anderson's Division took the left for the purpose 
of gaining the rear of Harper's Ferry, while the rest of our army con- 
tinned up the Hagerstown road. .At the towns we pa'^sed in this sec- 
tion, the Union sentiment seemed greatly to predominate. Women, 
with Yankee effrontery from their windows, would make remarks of 
ridicule, but were always badly cut by a soldiej's wit. One asked why 
our soldiers were so dirty and ragged. She was answered, " Our 
mammas always taught us to put on our worst clothes when we go to 
kill hogs." Another wanted to know why so many of us were bare- 
footed. She was answered : " We wore out our shoes running after 
the Yankees." But I must say in justice to M^vland, we have some 
warm friends, even in thase Union Counties through which we passed. 
An old man was seen to pull off his shoes and give them to one of our 
barefooted soldiers, and ride off in his socks. 

Our march on the 11th brought us within 6 miles of Harper's Ferry to 
Pleasant Valley, which lays between two parallel ridges, or properly moun- 
tains from their height, one of which we crossed to-day, when lovely 
scenery began to burst upon our vision. As we descended into the val- 
ley we saw a company of the enemy's videttes on the top of the oppo- 
site mountain. A few shell were thrown at them and they disappeared. 
We encamped for the night near the village of Brownsville, reclining 
in the lap of the mountains. Here the people generally sympathized 
with our cause, giving us liberally of whatever they could spare, for in 
our rapid marches and scanty means of transportation, our commis- 
saries could not furnish us sufficient subsistence. We lived princi- 
pally on roasting ears and fruit, of which the slopes of Maryland 
produced abundance. On the morning of the 12th we again advanced, 
detaching Con pany M and Company A of the 7th, and one from the 
3d Regiment, and two from Barksdale's Brigade as skirmishers, we 
ascended to the top of Elk Bidge, Kershaw's Brigade winding itself 
up the mountain in rear of the skirmishers, while Barksdale's advanced 
along the left side of the mountain. As the advanced skirmishers 
gained the top, they were fired upon by the enemy's pickets, who im- 
mediately fled. We advanced along the mountain as near the crest as 
possible. Soon we came upon another picket post, driving them in. 
Soon the dim path we were following disappeared amid the rocks and 
precipices. Slowly and cautiously our skirmishers, stretched across the 
mountain, advanced among the rocks. So difficult and intricate 
was the passage along the mountain that Company A got lost and 
did not reach us till we camped at night. After a while we came upon 
a third picket post, which we drove in with a volley. We had not 
gone far from here before we came upon the enemy in large numbers, 



12 

• 

strongly posted behind a high ledge of rocks, accessible only by a 
narrow defile, and that was very rugged, and along it they had formed 
an abattis of felled trees. We arrived before this late in the evening. 
They kept up a random firing at our skirmishers till night. Our com- 
pany was posted on the right wing. Here we lay on our arms, hungry 
and thirsty, for we had not found a drop of water all day, while the 
Brigade encamped a short distance in our rear. At Harper's Ferry, 
which lay at the foot of the mountain, we could now see their numer- 
ous tents spread over Bolivar Heights, and hear the continuous long 
roll of many drums. 

At daylight on the 13th skirmishing again commenced. About 7 
o'clock the skirmishers were ordered back, when we found the 7th 
drawn up in line of battle, about to attack the enemy. Col. Aiken 
ordered our company to the rear to rest, as we had been skirmishing 
24 hours without fogl^ water or sleep. The 3d Regiment supported 
the-7th, and the 2d supported the 3d, while the 8th advanced on the 
right of the ledge, the height of which prevented this Regiment from 
flanking the enemy at this point. The 7th opened the fight by ad- 
vancing over these obstacles against the enemy, concealed and protected 
by natural and artificial covarings. The Regiment pressed right on over 
rocks and trees and brush in the face of a destructive fire. In less 
than an hour they had stormed the stronghold and routed the enemy, 
who fled about half a mile to another position stronger than this. 
Here they had a regular fort of logs, extending across the top of the 
mountain. Our troops advanced against this place in the same order 
they attacked the other, the 7th in front with the 8th on the right. 
The 7th had stormed the first place, without the supports being ordered 
forward, and now it boldly advanced. The enemy had cut down the 
timber ih front of their fort for some distance. Over this our troops 
rushed, pouring volleys into the enemy, who were sending a murderous 
fire into their ranks. Soon the 3d Regiment was ordered to relieve 
the 7th, which lay down to let the 3d pass over, and advanced, making 
a splendid charge. At the same time the Mississippi Brigade was 
coming up on the enemy's left, protected by a high clilF. Notwith- 
standing their strong position, they could not stand the idea of close 
quarters, and precipitately fled down the mountain to Harper's Ferry. 
As near as we could learn there were about 3,000 of them. This was 
about 11 o'clock, A. M. The 7th Regiment lost 113 men killed and 
wounded, the 3d and 8th not so many, the 2d lost none. Our killed 
(which exceeded the enemy's from their w:ll guarded positions) were 
buried in the lofty cemetery of Maryland Heights, where they sealed their 
devotion to Southern freedom, by pouring out their life's blood upon our 
country's altars. May these fallen heroes have also ofl"ered up chris- 
tian lives, and have been translated from this, the loveliest of earthly 
scenes open to view, to fairer scenes on high. 

The scenery, viewed from these heights, is the grandest and love- 



13 

liest I ever beheld. The mountain seems to have been cleft asunder 
by the Potomac, the towering cliffs hanging threateningly over each 
bank. On the Virginia side called the Loudoun Heights. The Shen- 
andoah River empties its waters into the Potomac at the base of the 
mountain, just before it rushes through the vast chasm. Harper's 
Ferry lies between these rivers at their junction. From the heights 
over the town, far to the north-west, the Alleghany Mountains, rising 
like clouds in the distance, are seen. The Sheaandoah, winding along 
its broad fertile valley, and the Potomac is seen for 20 miles cutting 
in two a succession of parallel mountains, all the intervening valleys 
visible in one panoramic view from Maryland Heights. 

With some large rifle siege guns, the enemy began to throw shells 
at us, some passing over the heights, falling near our wagon trains in 
the valley. But this was soon stopped, as Jackson appeared in front 
of Harper's Ferry about 2 o'clock, P. M., when they directed their 
artillery against hira. He had preceded us up the Hagerstown road 
which we left at Middleton in order to get in the rear of the Ferry, 
while he pushed on, crossing the Potomac above at Williamsport, ap- 
peared in front. From the heights, we could see the artillery of Jack- 
son engaged with the enemy on Bolivar Heights. This fight continued 
at intervals till night. On Sunday, 14tlf, about 11 o'clock, Jackson 
began firing from Loudoun Heights, and by 2, P. M., we had got our 
guns on Maryland Heights, and opened, and thus Harper's Ferry was 
encircled by artillery, which rained an incessant shower of shells down 
upon the devoted town. Large passes of their infantry were seen 
continually shifting their positions. Thus the scene went on till night. 
While the siege of the town was thus progressing in our front, we 
were admonished by the continuous deep roar of guns in our rear, that 
bloody scenes were there also disturbing the peace of this holy Sabbath 
day. McClellan with 200,000 troops fresh from Washington City, was 
pressing upon our rear, attempting to relieve Harper's Ferry. With 
25 or 30,000, as near as we could learn, he pursued McLaws' Division 
with two Brigades of Anderson's, operating in rear of the Ferry. 
Gens. Howell Cobb's and Semmes' Brigades were sent to guard the 
pass through which we came over the mountain, 6 miles back. An- 
derson's two Brigades guarded the gap below us through which the 
river and railroad passes, while Barksdale's and Kershaw's Brigades 
held Maryland Heights. Thus it will be seen that our entire force 
was six Brigades, while in front of us was the Potomac River with no 
point of crossing but Harper's Ferry, and that defended by 12,000 of 
the enemy; on each side of us almost impassable mountains lay, while 
in our rear was pressing an army of three times ours in numbers. 
The remainder of McClellan's army advanced up the Hagerstown road, 
where J). H. Hill and Longstreet made a stand, as this road crosses 
the mountain at Boonsboro. Here a bloody battle was fought some 12 
miles from us, at the same time that the enemy were pressing their 



14 

overwiielming numbers against Cobb's and Semmes' Brigades, 6 miles 
in our rear. Their numbers allowed them to flank our troops, and es- 
pecially Cobb's troops were driven back in groat disorder. The enemy 
succeeded in possessing the pass the night of the 14th. 
( Early on Monday, 15th, all our batteries opened with redoubled fury 
on Harper's Ferry. At daylight Barksdale's and Kershaw's Brigades 
were ordered down to the valley, as we expected the enemy, now having 
the pass, to attack us in rear. As we marched back, stretching our 
line of battle across the valley, sternness was depicted on every counte- 
nance, for we all appreciated our critical position, and determined to 
stain that beautiful valley with the blood of heroes before surrendering 
to the hated enemy. About 9 o'clock. Gen. Kershaw, riding in front, 
cried out ''attention battalion/' every man springing to his feet, ex- 
pecting to advance; but instead of that, he said "the enemy have 
raised a white flag over Harper's Ferry, and Jackson is now marching 
in to take possession of the town/^ Such a spontaneous burst of 
cheers and yells broke forth, echoing througjsi the mountain glens, 
which no doubt produced a salutary efi'ect on the enemy, for we re- 
mained there all day unmolested, while our trains passed over the 
bridge at the ferry safely into Virginia. Thus it will be seen what an 
important part the 7th S. Gi Regiment took in the capture of Harper's 
Ferry. Yet I have seen newspaper reports that Jackson captured it 
with the loss of but three men, when the 7th alone lost 113, which I 
believe was near double the loss of any other, but the 3d had more 
killed dead. Had not the heights in the rear been taken, the place 
would have been impregnable. 

During the night of the 15th we crossed over the enemy's pontoon 
bridge at Harper's Ferry, sleeping but a short time during the night ; 
we marched some two miles beyond town, stopping here for the commis- 
sary wagons, on the morning of the Itith, for we had got 'nothing to 
eat since a few morsels hastily eaten the morning before. Here we 
lay listening at the battle's roar of Crampton's Gap, beyond the Poto- 
mac, where the numerous vandal hosts were pressing upon Longstreet. 
During the day vast quantities of army stores, captured at Harper's 
Ferry, guns, wagons, &c., passed by us, while the neighboring farmers 
carried home by droves the negroes the Yankees had stolen, and were 
busy employed in reclaiming stolen property of all descriptions, recap- 
tured from the enemy. Late in the evening our commissary wagons 
arrived, which produced joy throughout the Regiment. But alas ! 
how often is a soldier's expectation thwarted. Before we had time to 
'' draw rations" the order ran down the lines " fall in 7th Regiment," 
and with hungry stomachs we were soon on the march. Taking the 
right, speculation ran high as to where we were going. But the heavy 
guns over the Potomac admonished us that we were going back into 
Maryland. At 10, P. M., we lay aown to be aroused again at 1 o'clock. 
At daylight on Wednesday, 17th, we were again fording the river at 



15 

Sheparclstown. We were now pushed on towards Sbarpsburcr, some 
3 miles distant. We could now distinctly see the burstio": shells and 
clouds of smoke which told of the fearful struggle into which we were 
rapidly hastcniog. Arriving witliln a mile of the battle ground, we 
were halted, and stacked arms. About 9 o'clock wo were ordered 
forward. Soon the shells were flying fast and thick about us. The 
nearer we approached the line of battle the faster we went, and the 
last half mile at double-quick. Our knapsacks were now thrown off 
as we run, making our route look more like a retreat than an advance. 
We met Hood's Brigade, that had withstood the shock of battle since 
daylight, retiring. As we were being placed in line of battle, Hood 
rode up to us and said, '^ If I had received these troops this feorning 
this thing would have been over." We were now on the left wing 
of our army, where the enemy had been, and were still, making des- 
perate efforts to force us back and turn our centre. Had he done this, 
from the nature of our position, our army would have been in a critical 
situation. Kershaw's JJrigade occupied the right of the division — the 
2d and 3d llegiments in front — the 8th and 7th in the rear and a 
little to the right. Our line of battle extended along a ravine and the 
edge of some woods, which were some 800 yards wide, and extending 
in length some distance. The 7th and 8th Regiments were a little to 
the riuht of these woods, and had just got into position when an officer 
came galloping back, saying, *'The enemy are advancing.'^ The ar- 
rival of McLaws' Division was timely, and saved the left wing of our 
army from being driven back upon the centre. Although that wing 
was being forced back by overwhelming numbers, the slain of the 
enemy attested the stubborness of the resistance. But the enemy now 
advancing in heavy columns of fresh troops, expected to sweep Jack- 
son's wearied and reduced veterans before them. They did not know 
that our division had arrived. Gen. Kershaw had just placed the 2d 
and od Kegiments in posiaou in our front. The enemy came within 
75 yards of these befoie they could see them, and were received with 
such a volley that thinned their ranks and stopped their advance ; these 
volleys were now rolling along our entire line. 'Soon the long dark 
lines of the enemy were seen staggering back, broken and confused. 
At this moment the 7th and 8th were ordered to advance. The routed 
enemy were flying through the woods, while we were pouring volleys 
into their retreating lines. Soon we had driven them entirely through 
the woods, over a fence, into a field, to the lop of a hill. By this time 
they were so thoroughly disorganized that every one .seemed to be 
running his best, and fast disappeared in a large corn field in front. 
By the" time we reached the top of the hill they had gotten out of the 
way of their batteries placed some 2 or 300 yards down the slope. No 
sooner did we gain the top of the hi 1, than they opened a most mur- 
derous fire of grape and shells from batteries on our right, front and 
left. Of all the cannonading I ever experienced, this was the most 



16 

destructive. It seemed almost whole lines would melt away at once — 
still the cry was ''onward men, onward/* A portion of us had nearly 
reached the batteries in front — killed and driven oif most of the 
gunners. But at this juncture we discovered that we could not hold 
these batteries. We had no supports, while the enemy had new lines 
in their rear, while we were enfiladed by their batteries on the right 
and left. We now fell back to our first line, the 7th Regiment having 
lost 169 killed and wounded, being half the men carried into action. 
Company "ivl'' lost 17 of 29 carried into action. The other llegi- 
ments of the Brigade also sufi"ered severely. 

In falling back I met Col. Aiken coming out of the battle. To- 
gether l^Jith several others, we took refuge behind a pile of cut wood 
in the woods, to determine where to rally the Regiment, as a hurricane 
of balls were now passing through the forest. Having decided upon a 
ravine in the edge of the woods, each of us started out to inform those 
we met where the new line would be formed. We had proceeded but 
a short distance, before the Colonel was shot tljrough the body, falling 
on the field, but I did not know it (as we had separated) until late in 
the evening. He has since recovered. Our Major was killed on the 
hill, where mi*ny of our noble officers and men reposed in the cold 
embrace of death. But the enemy's loss far exceeded ours. I almost 
agree with a newspaper correspondent, who said, " In a piece of woods 
through which McLaws' Division fought, you could walk on the enemy's 
dead for 3 acres." The piles of their slain exceeded anything I ever 
saw, while btit few of our men were killed, till we rose the hill in front 
of the batteries. Our batteries were of little service to us on the left. 
Had the ground admitted of their advance as we made our grand 
charge, the right of the enemy would have been swept from the field. 
As it was they made no more advances on our left, but kept up a 
furious shelling the rest of the day. It was now about 12 o'clock, and 
failing to break through our left, the enemy now turned to our centre. 
Here the contest was short, as they were soon repulsed. Next they 
assailed our right about 2 o'clock, where the cootest raged till darkness 
put an end to the awful strife. During the evening I occupied a posi- 
tion to see the fight on the right. The enemy were repulsed here as 
at the centre and left, with great slaughter. 

The morning of the 18th broke with profound silence upon the two 
exhausted armies in front of each other, and the sun scattered his 
bright rays over the vast heaps of the skin. Hardly a gun broke 
the solemn silence of the day. During this morning, for the first 
time since the morning of the 15th, we drew rations. Thus it will 
be seen that for 3 days without food and scarcely any sleep, we 
had patiently endured the terrible ordeal through which the love of 
country and liberty had called us. Gen. Lee's army, reduced by 
hard marches and sickness to about 40,000, fought the battle of 
Sharpsburg against the fearful odds of 160,000, repulsed the advance 



17 

of the enemy at all points, held the battle field 24 hnurs, and retired 
the night after, safely over the river into Virginia, carrying everything 
away with him, but a part of his disabled wounded. Taking all the 
circumstances in consideration, truly the Providence of the Almighty 
was nowhere more strongly manifested in our behalf than in this 
battle. 

The Regiment encamped in the neighborhood of Winchester. On 
the 20th, the enemy threw a few Regiments across the river. A part 
of Jackson's Corps captured and killed most of those, after which the 
experiment of crossing the Potomac in the face of our army was 
abandoned by the enemy. Here the Regiment remained without any- 
thing of interest occurring till the 31st of October. While here, 
Lieut. Col. Bland, who was wounded at the battle of Savage Station, 
returned and took command. J. S. Hard, being senior captain, was 
promoted to Majir by the death of Major White. 

On 3 1st October, the Regiment left for Culpeper, where it arrived 
after 4 daj-s of hard marching. There it remained till the IStli of 
November, when it left for Fredericksburg, arriving there on tho 20th. 
Our division was the first j|f the army that reached here. Nothing of 
much interest occurred till the stirring events of the bombardment of 
the city, which occurred December 11th, and was held during the day 
by Barksdale's Brigade. At night they evacuated the place. The 
enemy were busy crossing the river and occupying the place, preparing 
for the great battle of the 13th. The place was badly mutilated by 
the bombardment, tfce houses generally perforated by shot and shell, 
yet the heroic Mississippians held the place, under this terrible fire, all 
day. At night they fell back to the base of the hills which border the 
plain of the city. They were relieved by Cobb's Brigade, which, 
taking position behind a stone fence, bravely withstood the fierce as- 
saults of the enemy, whose great object seemed the possession of the 
hill just in rear of Cobb, lor this commanded most of the other heights 
immediately in front of the city. In this battle, which resulted so 
gloriously to us and disastrously to the enemy, the 7th Regiment bore 
an important part. (I was not in this battle, being ofl^ sick, and give 
facts not as seen, but as I learn them from ethers engaged,) Ker- 
shaw's Brigade occupied Lee's Hill just in rear of a redoubt, on which 
was placed a heavy rifle gun commanding a railroad cut leading out of 
town. Gens. Lee, and Longstreet, and Stewart stood by this gun all 
day directing its firing, which cut lanes through the terror-stricken 
enemy. Late in the evening, with Lee and Longstreet on each side, it 
burst, hurting no one. Early on the morning of the 13th the Brigade 
was carried to the foot of this hill, where they remained throwing up 
breastworks, till 1 o'clock, when it was ordered to the hill, at whose 
base T. K. R. Cobb's Brigade was. This was over a half mile from Lee's 
Hill, to the left and nearer the town. They passed under a heavy fire 
of the enemy's artillery while proceeding to this position. Stopping 



18 

in rear of a large brick house, which crowns the summit of the hill, 
they lost several men, being exposed to the shells and the enfilading 
fire of the infantry up a ravine on the right. They were soon ordered 
to the front of the house, when the advancing masses of the enemy 
were in full view in the plain below. The 3d Regiment was on the 
hill to the left of the 7th, the 2d and 8th h^.d gone down to the foot 
of the hill in rear of Cobb's mea, the 15th and od Battalion (James') 
which were transferred to our Brigade, were on the right, but not en- 
gaged, though the 15th was considerably exposed. The 7th was some- 
what protected by a natural depression in the ground, behind which 
they lay and fired. This depression protected the men from the front, 
but it sloped ofi" into a ravine on the right, up which the enemy's 
sharpshooters greatly annoyed the Regiment. Thus posted, the 7th 
shot over Cobb's men, raining their balls upon the ranks of the enemy, 
who were hurling column after column against the position, to be 
shattered and driven back in confusion under a blufl" near the edge of 
the city. Thus the battle raged, till darkness put an end to the dread- 
ful carnage. That night, Kershaw's Brigade, with the exception of 
the od, which had suffered dreadfully, relieved Cobb's, which had held 
the stone wall at the foot of the hill since the night of the 11th. 

Kershaw remained here till the morning of the 16th, when it was 
ascertained that the enemy had recrossed the river, leaving the plains 
literally covered with his dead — a just retribution upon the plundering 
thieves, who largely exercised their propensities while they occupied 
the city. Thus the grand Federal army of the Potomac, with Burn- 
side, the fourth valiant leader, in its fourth *' on to Richmond " met its 
fourth disastrous defeat. May God, who gave us the victory and who 
is the judge in our cause, continue to crown our efforts with success. 

The loss of the 7th Regiment was 65 killed and wounded. From 
the best information we could obtain, the enemy fought 48 regiments 
in front of the stone wall and the hill in rear of it, while we had in 
actual engagement at those points 3 brigades, viz : Cobb's, Kershaw's 
and a North Carolina Brigade, or a portion of it — about 12 regiments. 
A part of the time our batteries on the hill were firing, but the princi- 
pal work was done by the infantry. 

The citizens of Fredericksburg said that late in the evening, Mea- 
gher's Irish Brigade passed through the city going into the fight. 
They were greatly applauded and cheered as they went by the masses 
of skulking Yankees along the streets, saying, •' Here goes the rebel 
batteries, in 10 minutes the Irish Brigade will have them hills." 
Meagher made them a fiery war speech, at which they lustily huzzaed, 
telling them that all who had tried had failed, but he knew they could 
take them. The Irish, half drunk with liquor, flattered by the cow- 
ardly Yankees, and elated by the harangue af their leader, no doubt 
thought as they entered the plain, that they would see the '^rebels" 
running. It must be said in credit of their valor, or liquor possibly. 



19 

that a few of tliem came nearer than any others to our biitteries, sotod 
lay within 50 yards of our lines at the foot of the hill. The citizens 
say that about an hour after they passed through with such boastful 
threats, about 30 of them came running back, and the pontoon bridges 
were cut to stop them at the river. Out of the whole brigade only 
about 200 escaped unhurt. Their liquor had led them "into the 
^'slaughter pen.'' May theirs be the fate of all +he beastly, drunken, 
thievish foreigners who pollute our Southern soil in company with their 
employers, the Yankees. 



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